Signal device



April 19, 1927.

J. M. MELE 1,624,963

S IGNAL DEVI CE Filed Aug. 30 1926 INVENTOR fajzzz M Nele AORNEY Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITEQ STATES Pie''i liFlQ.

SGNAL DEVICE.

Application filed August 3Q, 1926.

This invention relates to new and iinproved signal device, especially designed to be used in connection with a motor vehicle.

It is the object ot this invention, among,l other things, to provide a device ot this character which will display the ordinary rear light, as is required by statute in prac-- ticallynall jurisdictions, and also a stop or other signal which may be operated automatically with the movement ot the brake mechanism, and to accomplish these desirable results with mechanism that will be entirely enclosed and thus protected trom eX- ternal injury and will in its details and operation contain many decided adif'antages over signal devices ot this character hereto- 'fore made.

The improvements in the detail-s and arrangement of parts will be apparent Afrom an inspection ot the accompanying drawings, in connection with the descrijition hcreinafter contained and wherein a jiireterred embodiment o the invention is disclosed for the purpose ot inijiarting an undei-standingI o1 the same.

Referring to the drawii'nrs, wherein like numerals ot reference des-iignate like parte in the several figures;

Figure 1 is a side elevation olf a motor vehicle having` my improved mechanism con `nected thereto;

Figure 2 is a 'front elevation ot my signal device with a license plate attached thereto;

Figure 3 is a sectional view thereof;

Figure l1- is a transverse sectional View, the parts in section being taken Lgenerally upon line l-l oit Figure 3; anl

Figure 5 is a perspective view ot the display drum.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, designates the cylinder which is preferably made oit nonln'ealcible glass or the like and closed at its opposite ends by caps 11 and 12, between which and the end oit the cylinder 10 are the `Waslirs 13. These parts are held together as a unit by the bolts lll, which pass through the cape` and provided with nuts as is usual.

By thus enclosing the mechanism a struc ture is provided wherein it may be seen from the exterior and at the saine time is guarded against external injury aswell as kept free from sand, dirt, snow, ice, etc., that accnn'iulates upon a motor vehicle.

Projecting into the cylinder 1() is a lamp Socket 15 of usual Yfoi-m, havingi an incan- Seial No. 132,476.

descent lamp 16 at the inner end and a pine 17 at the enter end, from which leads a cord 18, through which is conducted a current ot electricity.

llllithin the cylinder is a display drum 19, which is semi-circular in torni, having: heads 2O and 21 at its opposite ends, the former having an opening Q2, throughwhich passes the socket '15 and in the latter is an opening 23, to receive the journal screw 24 havinga nut 25 thereon. This display drinn 19 rotates about an axis coincident with that ot the cyl indcr 10, power 'For which is derived from the sprint;l 2G in one direction and in the opposite direction trom the brake mechanism 27 through the cord 2S connected with the head 21, and brake mechanism ZT, a springl 29 being preferably interposed therebetween. Movement olf the brake .mechanism 27 pulls the cord 28 and through it the display drum i9 is moved about its axis until it assumes the position shown by broken lines in Figure LL, at which time one edge oit each olf the heads is brought into contact with one oi the bolts 141, thlis torniing a stop therefor.

The cord 28 is surrouiuh-al for a portion of its length by a flexible tubing SO, the inner end ot which is threaded through the oli'set portion ill upon the head 21.

The end of the flexible tubing 30 is threaded into the ollset portion and thus Alorn'is an inseparable connection therewith.

Through the wall o'lf the disj'ilay drum IIS) are two openings, 32 and 233, the 'former being,- a, single opening elongated in shape and the latter iornied in the shape oi figures or letters, as shown in Figure 5, forming the word Stop.

Fastened to the inside of the display drum opposite and coif'ering the opening- 32 is a transparent plate 234, either olf glass, celluloid or the like, preferably red in color and opposite the opening 233 are two plates 35 and 36, the plate 35 beingl preferablyv made oit white glass, celluloid or the like, and the plate 3G ot the same material, but preh-irahly green.

The numeral 3i' designates the bracket, the lower portion 38 oit which is preterably flat and havingv elongated slots 3S) therein. through. which project screws 4l() or the like, by means of which the license plate el may be attached thereto. The upper portion ol this bracket is curved at e2, and extends partly around the rear side of the cylinder 10, being held in position by the caps l1 and 12.

It it is desired.r the inner Yface ot the curved portion l2 may be painted white or the like, to torni a. reflector, or it desired a piece ol white paper, cloth, or the like, may be inserted tor the saine purpose.

lllhen the motor .is being` operated and no pressure. is being applied to thc brake mechanism, the several parts ot my signal device .are in the relative positions shown in Figure l, with the opening 232 in the display drum displayed through the rear oit the cylinder l() and the openings il?, opposite the curved portion i-.2. ll'hen so positioned the red rear light is disiilayed through the transA parent plate Sat. As the brake mechanism is actuated display drinn l5) is rotated about its axis and the openings 323 are moved in position so that the word Stop may be seen through the rear ole the cylinder instead oit the transpffirinit plate 3st-, as above described. This action is against thel tension of the spring 2li which upon release ot the brake mechanism returns the disph drum 19 to its former above-de" ribed po tion. It perchance the extent or move nent of the brake mechanism Q7 exceeds the length ot possible movement ot the display dri 19, such excess is absorbed by the spring QS). As the display drum 19 is only "iartirii'ciihir and the shell thereot is above its ai. s. the light 'from the lamp li projected downward through the cylind er l() onto the tace ot the license plate il-l, which light not shut oli even though the display drinn 19 is moved about its axis to disphr, the word Stop, above described.

lVit-hin the scope ot the appended claims minor changes may be made within niy invention, aside trom those herein suggested..

YWhat l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is :-A

l. ln mechanism ot the character described; a cylinder ot glass or the like; a cap closure ilor both ends thereof; one or more bolts extending` through the caps and the chamber within the cylinder for securing the cylinder and caps together as a unit; a display drum within the cylinder, particircular in form, and movably mounted therein.r and having plural openings thecthrough, one ot such openings being` 'termed in the shape ot letters; a transparent plate connected with the display drinn oppi: te each ot said openings; and a flexible connectiou between the displayY drinn and the brake mechanism o't the motor vehicle. said bolts being so positioned as to toria stops to limit the movement ot the drinn.

Q. In mechanism of the character described; a cylinder ot glass or the like; a cap or closure for both ends thereo'l having side walls: means as one or more bolts, 'tor securing the caps and cylinder together as a unit; and a bracket having a curved portion which partly encircles the cylinder upon the outside thereot and is rigidly connected therewith by means of said caps but without rivet-s or the like, and having a substantially straight portion adapted to support a license plate, cach end oi the said curved portion being` between the outside ot the cylinder and the walls ot the cap.

3. ln mechanism ot the character de scribed; a cylinder of glass or the like; a cap closure ior both ends the'zeot; one or more bolts extending` through the raps and the chamber within the cylinder tor seeming the cyliiu and caps together as a unit; a display drinn within the cylinder, parti-circular in liorin, and movably mounted therein. and having plural openings therethrough, one et such openings being 'torn'ied in the shape ot letters; a transparent plate connected with the display drum opposite one ot said openings; transparent plates ot dil- 'ferent colors connect-ed with the display drinn opposite another ot said openings; and a liexible connection between the display drinn and brake mechanism ot the motor vehicle, said bolts being` so positioned :is to Ytorni stops to limit the movement of' the drinn.

fl. ln mechanism ot the character descrilI-ec; a cylinder of' glass or the like; a cap or closure at both ends thereof, one oi said caps having an o'tlset portion; means as one or more bolts within the cylinder tor securing the caps and cylinder together as a unit; a display drum movably mounted within the cylinder; a 'flexible connection between tlie display drum and the brake mechanism ot the motor vehicle; and a member enclosing the. flexible connection that projects into the said otlset portion upon one ot the caps, said bolts being so positioned as to Atorni stops to limit the movement of the drum.

5. In mechanism ot th-e cl'iaracter desi'fribed; a cylinder of or the like; a cap or closure tor both ends thereoli'; means as one or more bolts within the cylinder 'or securing the caps and cylinder together as a, unitz'a display drum within the cylini'ler. part-i-circulnr in jorm` and movably mounted therein, and having` plural openings therethrough; a coil spring connected at one end with one ot said caps and at the other end with a part ot said drum l'or imparting n'iovenient thereto in one direction; and a 'flexible connection tor moving` the drinn in the opposite direction. which projects through one of the caps and is connected with the display drinn. said bolts being so l'iositioned as to 'torni stops to limit the movement ot the drinn.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto ai'lixed my signature.

JOHN M.. MELE.

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